Rep. Jo Ann Davis, a Virginia Republican first elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, died on Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer, her spokesman said. She was 57.
Davis, who died at her home in Gloucester, Virginia, had a mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and was able to return her job, spokesman Chris Connelly said. "She was back and doing well and then she had a recurrence at the beginning of 2007," he said.
Davis served on the House Armed Services and the House Foreign Affairs committees. Her heavily Republican district along the Chesapeake Bay north of the U.S. Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, has many Defense Department employees. "Her very first piece of legislation was a helping hand for the families of service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation," Robert "Mike" Duncan, Republican National Committee chairman, said in a statement. "Our deepest condolences go out to her family and friends."
Davis is survived by her husband, Chuck, two sons and a granddaughter.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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It's a real shame - she was a good lady and a decent legislator.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/07/2007 0:29 Comments ||
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All eyes are on Greenland's melting glaciers as alarm about global warming spreads. This year, delegations of U.S. and European politicians have made pilgrimages to the fastest-moving glacier at Ilulissat, where they declare that they see climate change unfolding before their eyes.
Curiously, something that's rarely mentioned is that temperatures in Greenland were higher in 1941 than they are today. Or that melt rates around Ilulissat were faster in the early part of the past century, according to a new study. And while the delegations first fly into Kangerlussuaq, about 100 miles to the south, they all change planes to go straight to Ilulissat -- perhaps because the Kangerlussuaq glacier is inconveniently growing.
I point this out not to challenge the reality of global warming or the fact that it's caused in large part by humans, but because the discussion about climate change has turned into a nasty dustup, with one side arguing that we're headed for catastrophe and the other maintaining that it's all a hoax. I say that neither is right as do many rational people. It's wrong to deny the obvious: The Earth is warming, and we're causing it. But that's not the whole story, and predictions of impending disaster just don't stack up.
We have to rediscover the middle ground, where we can have a sensible conversation. We shouldn't ignore climate change or the policies that could attack it. But we should be honest about the shortcomings and costs of those policies, as well as the benefits. More at link, including filling wetlands to offset rising sea levels. The enviros will have a cow.
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/07/2007 07:33 ||
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I point this out not to challenge the reality of global warming or the fact that it's caused in large part by humans
I call bullshit.
Posted by: Frank G ||
10/07/2007 10:19 Comments ||
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#2
At least he's looking at the cost side of it; I give him credit for that. And for advocating a middle road. But if the middle road includes destroying wetlands so that humanity can thrive and prosper, the left will label him Hitler. Or worse, Bush.
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/07/2007 10:26 Comments ||
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#3
the left has already smeared Professor L. for his earlier work
#4
Lomborg completely misses the point. Zealots don't want their religion to be efficacious and analytical, they want it to be spiritual and emotional.
#5
Just ignore the greens, they'll go away eventually, just like the freaks who predicted an ice age back in the 70s. Things will move on, and a new fad will come along to replace environmentalism.
#7
I'm a math kinda guy, I converted the Milimeters to inches, and to use a reference anyone can grasp, get this, the rise they're claiming is .012 this equals the width of eight human hairs (Hairs are about 1 and 1/2 thousandths thick)
So OK everybody panic now, that 12 thousandths of an inch. is supposed to flood all lowlieing areas, cause huge loss of cropland and life in low areas.
Can anyone besides me call "Bullshit" there are NO places where that tiny a rise will make any difference at all.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/07/2007 19:02 Comments ||
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#8
The Earth is warming, and we're causing it
Total bullshit. The guy sounds reasonable, but he's not. Concede this main falsehood and all the rest doesn't matter.
#9
The obvious smart answer is to move the Earth into a slightly larger orbit to reduce the effect of the Sun. Surely we have some evil super-villains who could easily accomplish this task.
Violence flared in the Swiss capital of Bern as left-wing protesters tried to stop a pre-election campaign event by the nationalist Swiss People's Party. Police fired tear gas as demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles in front of parliament to interrupt a march and rally by about 5,000 SVP supporters.
...
Recent polls have forecast the SVP to emerge as the largest vote-winner.
#1
"Leftists in Switzerland use violence to disrupt democracy"
There - fixed.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut ||
10/07/2007 0:28 Comments ||
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#2
The Swiss police take a very dim view of such antics. Rioting and interfering in elections are not the Swiss way. Hopefully a lot of those leftists will discover the joy of a Swiss prison.
#6
Maybe the Vatican could lend them the Swiss Guard. They might look funny in the Michealangelo designed uniformes but I doubt the protesters would laugh at the the pikes when they saw a wll of them coming their way.
#7
When Hitler's army entered Rome in World War II, Swiss Guardsmen donned subdued, grey uniforms and took up positions behind machineguns and mortars. Though vastly outnumbered, they were prepared to sacrifice their lives for the Holy Father, but the Germans did not move against the Vatican.
Posted by: john frum ||
10/07/2007 11:20 Comments ||
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#8
Additionally, they are required to maintain a high level of physical fitness and a mastery of modern weaponry such as the SIG Sauer 9mm pistol and the H&K submachinegun. They also work hard at developing skills in close-quarters fighting, tactical movement, security, and counter-terrorism techniques.
Posted by: john frum ||
10/07/2007 11:21 Comments ||
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About the swiss guards, I once read in a La Stampa article translated in french that they have training accomodations, such as a combat shooting range, located in the Vatican underground.
#2
Who is pushing for real health insurance - with a $1000 deductible (O.K.. $500 if you're "poor").
Are we worried about 'catastrophic illnesses destroying families' or about getting the government (meaning me) to buy everything down to vitamins for poor folks and illegal aliens?
Posted by: Bobby ||
10/07/2007 7:29 Comments ||
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#3
Bobby,
Real Health insurance would have a deductible of $3,000 for a family of four ($750 per person). It would also allow higher premiums for life style choices, smoking, weight, and homosexuality for example, just like car insurance costs more for a 19 year old male driving a Corvette.
#4
Here's the problem: SCIP is supposed to help poor uninsured kids, but the Dems have designed something that give free health care (paid by me) to wealthy insured adults. Oh here's another problem -- what about anchor babies?
Posted by: regular joe ||
10/07/2007 9:38 Comments ||
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#5
"The Poor", "The Children". It used to be in the name of "God", "The People", "The State". The goal was and remains POWER over other people. The terms change, those seeking power, never do. To include the disaster they all seem to visit upon everyone else.
#7
An interesting story about the poster boy for SCHIP that the Dem's put up against Bush in their weekly radio address...turns out his family's not so poor after all.
#8
See also WND.com > THE COMMIES ARE COMING! Essentially little or no difference btwn Dems and Commie Party, ergo a vote for the Dems is indir a vote for Communism. * Lets not forget that DIALECTICISM > can also be ascribed or premised manipulation of any and all sides including that in direct and indirect opposition. HENCE, FASCISM > LIMITED COMMUNISM = WELL-MEANING BUT DEFECTIVE/ERRORPRONE COMMUNISM; COMMUNISM = DITTO LIMITED CAPITALISM; NATIONALISM = LIMITED GLOBALISM, ........
...................@etc. WOT > War agz Fascism = ergo WAR FOR COMMUNISM.Maionstream. Amers must look very closely at the -Isms and Personages behind the various political platforms/agendas.
#2
Heard some Dem mocking Rudy's "using 9/11" the other night, saying that by election time, voters will not view 9/11 as an American rallying point, but as "the catalyst for America engaging in an unpopular war."
Posted by: regular joe ||
10/07/2007 9:42 Comments ||
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#3
Hitlary has an ad using 9/11. Really.
I think Rudy's camp should make an ad showing Rudy run up to a thankels anchored woman in a pants suit with a gas mask on and say 'Are you sure Chelsey is not uptown, my men have looked everywhere and can't find her.'
#4
Romney is a slimebag. He will screw over conservatives worse than Bush. He'll sell out to whatever gets him power, and buyout whatever he needs to do that.
He's Bill Clinton with better hair and a fake conservative veneer over the powermongering pandering policitian underneath.
The opposition in the Senate on Saturday rejected President General Pervez Musharrafs re-election by the current assemblies, calling it an unconstitutional, illogical and immoral act...
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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NWFP Information Minister Asif Iqbal and other legislators of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Saturday submitted a no-confidence motion against NWFP Assembly Speaker Bakht Jehan to the assembly secretary.
Opposition members said they would support the speaker against the no-confidence motion, while the treasury members said the oppositions support to the speaker substantiated their claim that the speaker was in league with the federal government over the dissolution of the NWFP Assembly issue. The notice of the no-trust motion submitted to the assembly secretary was signed by nine lawmakers and sought that the motion be disposed of in the ongoing session.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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The United States on Saturday congratulated Pakistan on the presidential election, while adding that it looked forward to the official announcement of the result. The short two-line statement was careful to avoid President Pervez Musharrafs name, and did not directly express any word of satisfaction or pleasure over his runaway victory. The State Department, despite several calls by Pakistani correspondents, failed to come up with a response. Scott Stanzel, a White House spokesman said, Pakistan is an important partner and ally to the United States and we congratulate them for todays election. We look forward to the electoral commissions announcement and to working with all of Pakistans leaders on important bilateral, regional and counter-terrorism issues.
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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Pakistans Gen. Pervez Musharraf was elected to a third presidential term Saturday, winning a majority of the votes cast by lawmakers amid protests from opposition parties who called his candidacy unconstitutional.
Dictators are kinda unconstitutional by definition, but given statements of some of the louder elements of the the Pakistained opposition I find the sentiment laughable.
The Supreme Court could choose to rule Musharraf, who came to power following a bloodless coup in October 1999, ineligible to hold office. On Friday, the court barred the Election Commission from officially declaring a winner.
I just can't stand the suspense...
Musharraf got 252 of the 257 votes cast in the national assembly and Senate. His key rival, retired Supreme Court justice Wajihuddin Ahmad, won less than a handful.
I count five left after Perv got his votes. I'd call that "a handful." Since Wajihuddin get less than a handful, I'd guess he didn't get all five. UPDATE: Called that one. Three votes for Wajihuddin.
Media reports from the countrys four provinces said Musharraf won the majority of votes cast there as well. "The results show the people want continuity, stability and economic growth," Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz told Pakistan Television.
Oh, sure. When it comes to stability, Perv's your man. Really.
Aziz is a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Quaid-e-Azam that extended support to Musharraf, along with its allies, in Saturdays polls.
Comes as a surprise, dunnit?
A court hearing on Musharrafs eligibility resumes Oct. 17. The bench is thought likely to rule in Musharrafs favor, amid speculation that he will impose martial law if he loses the court battle.
Now, you just know that the guy who wrote this typed that sentence, turned away from his machine, and laughed his ass off. You simply cannot write that sort of stuff with a straight face.
This article starring:
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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What a miracle; I never would have predicted it. (Sarcasm alert) I still think that power sharing with the Pakistan Peoples Party would advance the GWOT. (Not sarcasm)
Some thoughts of A. S. Shakiry, an Iraqi who owns a shoe-manufacturing business.
For a long time, people have been accustomed to inherit their trades and professions, which are acquired in the Arab world at a very early age, as I experienced myself. I learnt my trade in the shoe business when I was only eleven. Thanks to the various publications and catalogues which reached the Arab countries during the forties, I had become familiar, by the age of twenty, with most aspects and developments of this industry on an international scale. .. Luckily my senior managers as well as the work force were appreciative of my interest in learning everything about the technical and scientific developments of the shoe industry. In 1955, I made my first study and training trip to a number of European countries when I joined one of the international companies and made full use of that golden opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience to the advantage of my future work. I had acquired the ability to develop new ideas in the production field, and participated in the development of a new product which has become essential for manufacture -- namely, the sheets made of leather fiber and waste material used in the internal sole of sandals. .
The days when the shoemaker used to make the shoe from first to last are gone. Today specialization is the chief feature of this industry. . Specialization has reached such a high degree that even the smallest part of the shoe has become the business of an independent factory and company. Thus the shoemaking industry has become now an assembly process rather than an integral manufacturing industry.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Mike Sylwester ||
10/07/2007 12:03 ||
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when the shoemaker used to make the shoe from first to last
...A team led by Son Nghiem of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., studied trends in Arctic perennial ice cover by combining data from NASA's Quick Scatterometer (QuikScat) satellite with a computing model based on observations of sea ice drift from the International Arctic Buoy Programme. QuikScat can identify and map different classes of sea ice, including older, thicker perennial ice and younger, thinner seasonal ice...
....Nghiem said the rapid decline in winter perennial ice the past two years was caused by unusual winds. "Unusual atmospheric conditions set up wind patterns that compressed the sea ice, loaded it into the Transpolar Drift Stream and then sped its flow out of the Arctic," he said. When that sea ice reached lower latitudes, it rapidly melted in the warmer waters.
"The winds causing this trend in ice reduction were set up by an unusual pattern of atmospheric pressure that began at the beginning of this century," Nghiem said...
#2
Lies, all lies.
Al Gore, inventor of the Internet, says otherwise....
Posted by: john frum ||
10/07/2007 11:33 Comments ||
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#3
Once again, if the ENTIRE Arctic ice cap melted, it would not raise sea levels around the world one millimeter. Since water expands as it freezes, ice is less dense than water. When the ice melts, the volume of water remains the same.
The Antarctic ice cap is another matter. However, I seem to recall that the southern ice cap is growing.
(Yes, I know that if Greenland melted completely, it would raise the sea level a little.)
#4
I'm a math kinda guy, I converted the Millimeters to inches, and to use a reference anyone can grasp, get this, the rise they're claiming is .012 this equals the width of eight human hairs (Hairs are about 1 and 1/2 thousandths thick)
So OK everybody panic now, that 12 thousandths of an inch. is supposed to flood all low lying areas, cause huge loss of cropland and all life in low areas.
Can anyone besides me call "Bullshit" there are NO places where that tiny a rise will make any difference at all.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
10/07/2007 18:56 Comments ||
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(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. said it may seek United Nations sanctions against Myanmar as a worldwide show of support for pro-democracy demonstrators got under way.
Campaigners in countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, South Korea, the U.K. and Ireland planned to march at noon local time, wearing red headbands in support of Buddhist monks who've been arrested, the Burma Campaign U.K. said on its Web site. ``This day of action is to show that the crisis has not gone away. The UN Security Council must act now to end the crackdown and they must keep focused on this crisis until we know the people of Burma are safe,'' said Ko Aung, a Burmese refugee in the U.K.
International condemnation of the military regime of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has intensified since it deployed soldiers on Sept. 26 to crush protests. Security forces clubbed and shot at pro-democracy demonstrators, raided monasteries and arrested monks. At least 30 people were killed and 1,400 arrested, according to the Australian government.
About 500 people marched today to the Opera House in Sydney, said Benya Aye, a 49-year-old former political prisoner in Burma who helped organize the Australian protest. ``International pressure on the junta is high and it is the right time for us to increase that pressure and push for the military to change,'' said Aye, who spent two years and two months in a Burmese jail before moving to Australia in 1987.
Settle Problems
``Even though the military has done horrible things to us, we aim to settle these problems through reconciliation. The feeling here today is of elation and people can see the future,'' Aye said today in a telephone interview from Sydney.
Demonstrators also marched in the Australian cities of Melbourne and Brisbane and in New Zealand's Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch and Palmerston North. The protests were an ``international outcry'' to send a message to Myanmar's military regime that the ``world is outraged,'' Irene Khan, secretary general of Amnesty International, said today in a statement on the London-based human rights group's Web site.
The Association of South East Asian Nations said the world has to be ``pragmatic'' in dealing with Myanmar and any peaceful solution to the crisis must involve the military. ``The military is a key institution in Myanmar that cannot be wished away,'' Vanu Gopala Menon, Singapore's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council meeting yesterday, according to a transcript released today by the city-state's Foreign Ministry. ``If the military is not part of the solution, there will be no solution.''
Posted by: Fred ||
10/07/2007 00:00 ||
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All the junta has to do is convert to Islam, then the world won't care if you kill Buddhists or Jews. Just ask the Thais.
#2
WAFF.com Poster > CELESTIAL MONROE DOCTRINE [Global Chinese Empire under Heaven] Post - argues China needs to take over Myanmar, etal for Chicom security and in order to get access [read - ports] in Indian Ocean region.
Go read the profanity-laced rant. When you're finally able to stop guffawing long enough to draw breath, consider what ELSE she doesn't know:
- that women live, on average, longer than men
- that women can tolerate many types of pain longer than men
- that the testosterone-linked strength of men has, historically, fed and protected women who had to bear children, cook and often plant/harvest crops, all without the benefit of birth control pills and well equipped gyms for tony workouts.
Hell, does she realize they DIDN'T EVEN HAVE SPANDEX OR FLAVORED VITAMIN WATER?
Don't tell her - she'll be even more pissed if she finds out.
Of course dear lady person, that's why the Physical Training test in the Army are different between men and women. And while good women out there are making their contribution, the death toll on the battlefield is still largely male. You need the upper body strength for all the gear and armor you lug around. Not saying some ladies can't, but the reality is that most can't. Don't get upset, there are many men who can't either. They become effete college professors and news entertainment columnists. The battlefield is the ultimate Darwinian environment. No bureaucrat making regulations or judge issuing a decree can alter that reality. You're right, life isn't fair. It's largely a cooperative effort. Best to be nice to the people who have to do the 'heavy lifting' if you can't.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Violence flared in the Swiss capital of Bern as left-wing protesters tried to stop a pre-election campaign event by the nationalist Swiss People's Party. Police fired tear gas as demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles in front of parliament to interrupt a march and rally by about 5,000 SVP supporters.
Pakistans Gen. Pervez Musharraf was elected to a third presidential term Saturday, winning a majority of the votes cast by lawmakers amid protests from opposition parties who called his candidacy unconstitutional. 
